Entertainment
Portable Criticizes Iyabo Ojo’s Advocacy
The Nigerian entertainment landscape is once again buzzing with friction as the outspoken singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, widely known as Portable, has directed a sharp verbal assault at veteran actress Iyabo Ojo. The dispute ignited after Ojo publicly voiced her support for single mothers, a stance that did not sit well with the self-proclaimed “Zazu” star. Portable, never one to shy away from social media confrontation, took to his platform to challenge the actress’s influence on the younger generation.
In a video that has rapidly gained traction across digital platforms, Portable questioned the moral authority of the actress to serve as a role model for aspiring families. He argued that her endorsement of single motherhood sends the wrong signal to young women who are looking toward marriage. For Portable, the celebration of non-traditional family structures is not just a personal choice but a systemic issue that threatens the foundation of stable upbringing for children.
The singer’s critique was particularly pointed regarding the dynamics of having children with multiple partners. He suggested that the path Ojo advocates for often leads to a lifestyle of instability. With his characteristic bluntness, he asked what kind of advice a woman in her position could possibly offer to those entering the institution of marriage, implying that her personal history disqualifies her from being a credible mentor on the subject.
Portable’s rhetoric shifted toward a more controversial territory when he claimed that single motherhood is frequently linked to promiscuity. He expressed a strong distaste for the idea of a woman having children for different men, questioning the logic of raising a family across multiple fathers. “One child for one man, three children for three different men?” he asked rhetorically, framing it as a scenario that the youth should avoid at all costs.
The singer emphasized that the goal for the younger generation should be to build and sustain lasting marriages rather than preparing for their eventual collapse. By praising the independence of single mothers, Portable believes Ojo is inadvertently encouraging young women to give up on the hard work of domestic partnership. He framed his outburst as a defense of traditional values, despite his own often chaotic public image and personal life.
This latest clash highlights the deep cultural divide within the Nigerian celebrity sphere regarding family and gender roles. Iyabo Ojo has long been a vocal advocate for the strength of women who raise children alone, often sharing her own journey as a point of empowerment. However, Portable views this narrative as a glorification of a “bad example” that could lead to the further fragmentation of the Nigerian social fabric.
Observers of the entertainment industry note that Portable’s style of critique is intentionally provocative, designed to spark conversation and maintain his visibility in the headlines. Yet, his comments on the “promiscuity” of single mothers have sparked a secondary debate about the stigma faced by women in Nigeria. While some of his followers agree with his stance on traditional marriage, many others have condemned his words as being insensitive and derogatory toward women.
The actress has yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the singer’s specific claims, but the viral nature of the video ensures that the conversation is far from over. In the digital age, these public spats often serve as a mirror to broader societal tensions between modern liberal views and conservative traditionalism. Portable seems determined to position himself as a gatekeeper of these older values, regardless of how much controversy he stirs in the process.
As the video continues to circulate, it raises questions about the responsibility of public figures when discussing sensitive social issues. Portable’s blunt assessment of Ojo’s life choices reflects a broader trend of “call-out culture” in the Nigerian music scene, where personal attacks are often disguised as moral guidance. Whether this will lead to a deeper dialogue on the realities of motherhood or simply fade into another chapter of celebrity feuding remains to be seen.
The clash also underscores the power of social media in amplifying individual opinions into national debates. In a matter of hours, a single video from Portable transformed a personal disagreement into a trending topic that touches on religion, culture, and the evolution of the Nigerian family. For now, the “Zazu” singer remains unrepentant, standing by his assertion that the lifestyle he critiques is one that no one should aspire to follow.
